Rooney clinched her maiden World Cup title following a nerve racking shoot off with San Marino’s Alessandra Perilli.

Perilli was the defending champion but San Marino's Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony flag bearer agonisingly lost her crown in challenging light and weather conditions.

Both finalists could not be separated throughout the contest as they scored nine clays out of 15 each, taking the final to a shoot off.

The sudden death period lasted until the 10th target, when Perilli missed a clay.

Rooney's 10th effort was accurate, however, and she sealed the victory and the gold medal.

"This has been my second ISSF World Cup Final, so I knew what to expect," Rooney, ninth at last year’s World Cup final in Nicosia in Cyprus, said. 

"I tried to go out there and do my best, and I made it, so I am really happy.

"The light changed a lot this morning, and then the wind picked up this afternoon.

"The final was more difficult, the wind picked up more, it became really hard, and that reflected on the scores."

Rio 2016 bronze medallist Corey Cogdell of the United States pocketed another bronze as she beat Lebanon’s Ray Bassil, who finished fourth.

The World Cup is due to conclude tomorrow with the last medal event, the men’s trap final, scheduled for 2pm local time.